Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-12-30

A side OF the street-car question which does not
often receive hearing Is presented in acommuni-
cation printed elsewhere to-day, which is 50 tenn
perate In tone and well expressed that the force
Of It's arguments Is not likely 70 be lost on the
most prejudieed reader.
n nay b. conceded, as ~ G. W. claims that IL
Is the public. and not the companies who crowd tho
cars. But our correspondent surely viii not main
tain that the companies do anything TO prevent
such crovdins. On the contrary, he knows as well
a. anyone that the driver or conductor who is
most acceptable 70 his employers Is the one who
makes the most effective use Of his familiar re-
frain: step In, ladiesi Plenty Of room forward
Gentlemen, please move up 10 the front" Persons
who want 20 ride are frequently ready TO turn
away from car apparently full, but are begulled
by such appeals into making bad matter worse.
And this gees On with the full knowledge and con-
sent Of the companies instead Of in spite Of their
protests
our correspondent reasons that the American
people would not submit 20 the treatment which
foreigners suffer In silence, and allow themselves
10 be referred from omnibus 10 omnibus TIL one
chances 70 come along which Is not filed. We
are TOO busy 70 endure this, he thinks, and our
time Is TOO valuable. Perhaps we fancy so Just
now. But 70 Is a sound economic maxim that
demand creates q supply. IL the carrying CON-
panlcs would enforce strictly rule against crowd
ing, the public would soon adapt themselves to It;
and those who had errands OF such importance
that minutes and seconds became OF consequence
would hire cabs, as they do In Paris and London
and elsewhere abroad Cab hire In Washington Is
now about as cheap as anywhere except possibly
In some OF the Continental cities; and II real and
steady demand for cheaper cabs existed, cheaper
cabs would spring into being In short order
But one point which has been urged time and
time again in these columns Is DOT touched upon
az all oy our correspondent. This Is. that the
hours OF greatest street travel accurately
defined in Washington than perhaps In any other
city. AT certain hour In the morning the Official
day opens, aud the CLERKS set out for the de-
partmenls Al a certain hour in the afternoon
the departments close, and the army OF clerks seek
their homes again. Some OF them live In the
SUBURBS, aad the times for the arrival and depar-
ture OF the local trains are advertised daily In the
nswspaperS Hence, by giving as much attention
10 the supply Of facilities at certain times as an
intelligent merchant, TOT instance, does every day
10 the disposition OF his goods and the massing OF
his clerks, the carrying companies could furnish
carsenough 70 give comfortable ride 10 the great
mass OF their patrons. AnOtner means by which
the com panies could make a stroke for their own
comfort and the pubics alike Is in putting extra
seats on the tops Of their vehicles. In Paris and
London the roof Is the most popular part OF an
omnibus or street car. There Is nothing TO pre-
vent the Use OF the same space here for a similar
purpose. IL would not add appreciably 10 the
weight OF the car, but would about double its caI-
ryrg capacity, ana every passenger would have
the comfort he pays for
Al all events. even IL the whole ground OF popu.
lar complaint cannot be removed, there is no
reason why the companies should not get rid OF as
much OF 10 as they can. Let them do all that in
them lies and trust 10 the pubcs sense OF Justice
20 See that they fairly dealt with thereafter.
Our correspondent evidently thinks that the cor
Porations have not been shown ali the eonsIdera-
tlon they deserve. Ii that Is So IL is not because
they have been wantOniy misJudged, but because
they have shown no disposition whatever 10 con-
cate the public. II any OF the reforms suggested
Of late were given trial and failed, the oompa.
MES would have night to resist further pressure:
hut as long as they earn big dividends and refuse
10 give their patrons the benefit OF any Of their
prosperity, even 70 the extent OF few honest ex
periInentS they must expect TO be subject to sharp
cTitieisln-